India, Feb. 26 -- Deputy chief minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde on Tuesday firmly backed party colleague Neelam Gorhe, whose remark on the Sena (UBT) leadership allegedly accepting luxury cars in exchange for party positions has opened a Pandora's box.

Gorhe, who is deputy chairperson of the state legislative council, made the allegation at the weekend, during the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in New Delhi. Her statement has drawn a backlash from the Sena (UBT) but she has found support from Shinde, who has been vocal in his criticism of Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray.

Speaking at a rally in Andheri on Tuesday evening, Shinde said, "I don't know whether it was right or wrong to raise the issue at the Sahitya Samm...